Longboard sizes: How do you know what size longboard to get?

One of the questions which usually new longboard riders have – how do you know what size longboard to get? As you might have noticed, there many quite different longboard shapes and sizes to choose from. So before getting a new longboard there are a few things to keep in mind. In this article I will outline the main criteria for deciding what size longboard to get.

There is quite a lot of information about longboard styles and sizes. So I have summed it up for you in the picture below. Remember, the information provided is more of a general guideline, every longboard rider has to see and feel what works for him or her best. If you are a beginner looking for a longboard, you can find boards that we loved the most and our guide here – choosing a longboard for a beginner.

Want to know more details about longboard sizes and styles? Let’s dive in.

How do you know what size longboard to get?

Longboard size

Before diving in more details about what size longboard to go for, let’s define what do we mean when we talk about longboard size. There are two things which we look at when talking about size. Check picture of one of my boards for reference:

Length of the longboard – basically how long your board this. Longboard length can vary anywhere from 22 inches to 50+ inches.

Width of the longboard – variation of width of the longboards is not that drastic, usually it varies from 7 to 10 inches depending on the board.

So how do you know what size longboard to get? There are two main criteria which you should consider:

Your height

What style of longboarding do you prefer or plan to go for

Your height

Let’s take a look at the first criteria – your height. Although some people would argue that your height does not matter at all when picking a longboard, I would say otherwise. And there are a few reasons for this. Firstly, if you are a tall guy or a tall girl, that means that your weight center is higher compared to a person who is shorter. It means that it is easier to hold balance for a short person than for a taller one. You can really feel that when standing on a longboard, trust me. I am 6 feet 3 inches and I have to put in some effort skating shorter longboards. So if you are tall, you need the board to be more stable to balance it all out, especially if you are starting out. And longer longboards are more stable than the short ones.

Secondly, if you are a tall rider, you would most likely have longer or bigger feet compared to riders who are not that all. And this is where longboard width comes in to play. You have to make sure that your feet rests on the longboard comfortably. If the longboard is too narrow for your feet, then it won’t be comfortable to maneuver the board. Also, there is a higher risk that you will unintentionally touch the ground with your feet while turning which could result in you falling down.

I know that the above seems like a post for tall people only but if you are on the shorter side – congrats, basically, you can ride every longboard you want without putting much thought. While the taller riders have to take a few things in to account before selecting a longboard. If you are a heavier or bigger guy/girl, check out our guide for heavier riders, there are a few important things which you need to know.

Your preferred longboarding style

The second criteria for deciding what size longboard to get is what kind of style do you prefer. Do you dream of going crazy fast and bombing hills? Dancing on your longboard and doing tricks? Or just enjoying a chill ride by the beach?

This is what will basically dictate what size longboard to go for. There are four main longboarding styles which define the longboard length:

Cruising

Downhill

Freestyle

Freeride

Cruising is all about getting from point A to point B or just having a more relaxed ride. Longboard length for cruisers varies from 28 inches to 46 + inches. If you are of average height, then a board of 32 – 42 inches is the way to go. On the other hand, if you are really tall, then aim for 38 + inches.

If you are more in to high speeds and need to feel adrenaline rushing through your veins, downhill is for you. Downhill board length usually varies from 35 inches to 43 inches. As with cruising, if you are on a taller side, don’t go with the shortest downhill boards.

Freestyle and Freeride boards are usually between 38 and 42 inches long. They are designed this way because these riding styles need both maneuverability for tricks and stability for going in pretty high speeds.

Enjoy the ride

That’s it for now, I really hope that this post will help you to pick the most suitable longboard for you and enjoy the ride just like we do. As always, if you have any questions or want to talk, hit us up using the contact form.

Enjoy the ride!

Please follow and like us:

Related Posts

About The Author

Paul

What's up everyone? Almost 6 years ago I have tried out my first board sport – longboarding. Ever since I have been hooked with it and other board sports. Everyday I try to share my knowledge about it with all of you. If you have any questions, comments or just want to chat, hit me up via the contact form.
Cheers,
Paul

About This Site

The owner of this website, boardfreak.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking boardfreak.com Review to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. Disclaimer